21 “Nachwuchspakt” Professorships for Leibniz University Hannover

Press release from
09/21/2017

Tenure track programme promotes junior researchers

Cause for celebration at Leibniz University Hannover: great success in the first round of the approval process of the programme by the German government and federal states to promote junior researchers. Leibniz University Hannover is very pleased to have been granted 21 "Nachwuchspakt" professorships, which is the highest number of professorships awarded to a university in Lower Saxony. In a national competition, German universities applied for funding for tenure track professorships. Tenure track positions are initially subject to a fixed-term contract. Following a positive evaluation, a tenure and thereby life-long professorship may be granted at the respective university.

The "Nachwuchspakt" programme aims to establish career paths in research - in particular for junior researchers. Between 2017 and 2032, the German government will provide up to one billion euros in a two-stage approval process; the federal states will ensure overall funding. The programme is intended to create 1,000 professorships.

"We are delighted about the unique opportunity to strengthen our existing potential in innovative teaching and research. At the same time, the "Nachwuchspakt" will enable us to bridge the gap caused by economic measures in the past decades", emphasises Professor Volker Epping, President of Leibniz University Hannover. Following several cutbacks, the number of professorships at Leibniz University Hannover decreased from 420 in 1994 to approximately 330 at present. The fields that are to be expanded include established research areas as well as future-oriented topics such as robotics, optical technologies or the subject "Digital Society". In addition, the programme will enable LUH to expand the range of courses available in the natural sciences by implementing a long-awaited master's degree programme in biology.

The new professorships will provide reliable and family-friendly career paths for junior researchers. Furthermore, Leibniz University Hannover intends to strengthen its profile in research and teaching regarding future fields. The existing and well-proven advisory and qualification system that supports researchers at the different stages of their career will also be expanded.